Resources and Supports for Children with Autism

Description: When Sandy's son, Jack, was diagnosed with autism in 1993, support and resources were very limited for families who had children with
ASD. Over the years, through research and exploring creative ideas that have little or no cost, she has found a wealth of tools that she has used and
continues to use to help her son and other children with ASD. These ideas still work 20 years later - from finding respite, to utilizing community support, to
cutting through red tape. Come spend the day learning how to help the child who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Throughout the day,
Sandy will share ideas that may be used at home, school, and in the community. During the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to gain additional ideas
and insights from parents as they talk about the experiences they have had with their children who have autism.

Presenter Bios:Sandy Valentine lives in East Peoria, Illinois with her husband, Stan, and youngest son, Jack, who is still at home. She also has a son,
Doug, and daughter-in-law, Chandra, who live in Missouri. Sandy has always been very active in supporting child causes because of the challenges her
children presented. She actively supports St. Jude, TOUCH (The Organization for Understanding Children's Hearts), Dream Factory and various Autism
groups. Sandy's favorite presentation involves "typical" children talking about their peers in school, that may be in "that class."

This training will provide 5 contact hours for the following:

CPDUs (Continuing Professional Development Units) for teacher certification